National

“CMZ draft to be reviewed to protect fishermen”

NEW DELHI: The Environment and Forests Ministry has decided to review “discrepancies” in the draft on Coastal Zone Management (CMZ) 2008 notification, which is in its final stages.

Opposing the notification, non-governmental organisations and fishing communities alleged that it would “encourage” and “legalise” industrial activities along coasts in the garb of management methodologies, while curtailing the local community’s access to sea resources.

In a statement, Leo F. Saldanha of the Environment Support Group said Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State (Independent charge) for Environment and Forests, recently assured a delegation of the fishing community that the notification would be allowed to lapse and later changes incorporated, keeping in mind the scientific principles of sustainable development.

Mr. Saldanha said Mr. Ramesh gave the assurance that “protection of the interests of fishermen and their families will be paramount in the exercise, and not of builders as is being criticised.”

Quoting the Minister, the statement said that within the next two months, five consultations would be held to discuss improvements to the existing 1991 Coastal Regulation Zone notification.

“The Minister has also confirmed that the reform would not interfere with the traditional and customary rights of fishing communities,” Mr. Saldanha said.

A parliamentary panel has also asked the Centre to put the notification on hold, and accused it of ignoring the welfare of fisherfolk in the CMZ, saying it was prepared without involving them.

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